Friday, unidentified armed men attacked the police chief’s office in Karachi. Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) successfully managed to regain control after a four-hour operation which resulted in the neutralization of three terrorists.
While police officials received praise for the successful conclusion of the operation, the KPO attack has raised concern about the severe security lapse which led to the terror attack. Social media is brimming with questions about how the terrorists managed to enter the police chief’s office, which is located behind the Saddar police station on Sharea Faisal.
Read more: LEAs chant ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ as Karachi police chief’s office cleared of terrorists
Furthermore, government authorities have once again come under fire for failing to maintain law and order which led to such a major security lapse, that too in the main artery of the city.
“Kudos to the policemen for showing bravery, but the question cannot be ignored as to how these armed men dressed in shalwar kameez managed to enter the police headquarters by defeating the high-security arrangements,” journalist Hamid Mir said on Twitter.
پولیس کے جوانوں کو بہادری کا مظاہرہ کرنے پر تو شاباش ہے لیکن یہ سوال نظرانداز نہیں کیا جا سکتا کہ شلوار قمیضوں میں ملبوس یہ باریش مسلح افراد ہائی سکیورٹی کے انتظامات کو ناکام بنا کر پولیس ہیڈکوارٹر میں کیسے داخل ہو گئے؟ #KarachiBlast #SindhPolice https://t.co/gEItgoL4Yp
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) February 17, 2023
“I pray for the safety of our police officers. The nation stands behind you in fighting crime & terrorism. Sadly, Sindh Police has been plagued with political inductions, therefore these security failures. Zardari Mafia has played havoc with our law enforcement agencies,” PTI’s Ali Haider Zaidi said.
I pray for the safety of our police officers.
The nation stands behind you in fighting crime & terrorism.
Sadly, Sindh Police has been plagued with political inductions, therefore these security failures. #ZardariMafia has played havoc with our law enforcement agencies
— Ali Haider Zaidi (@AliHZaidiPTI) February 17, 2023
“The terrorist attack in Karachi is another alarming development. Yet that round table conference on countering the security threat never took place. Nor has any strategy/plan to counter the rising wave of militancy been unveiled by the govt. The priority seems to lie elsewhere,” former ambassador Maleeha Lodhi said.
The terrorist attack in Karachi is another alarming development. Yet that round table conference on countering the security threat never took place.Nor has any strategy/plan to counter the rising wave of militancy been unveiled by the govt. The priority seems to lie elsewhere.
— Maleeha Lodhi (@LodhiMaleeha) February 17, 2023
“Poor governance always leaves a vacuum that is seized by forces of evil like TTP to pursue their nefarious designs. This is yet another sign of the complete failure of this government. Sadly, the fire is spreading to all four corners of Pakistan,” law expert Hassan Aslam Shad said.
Poor governance always leaves a vacuum that is seized by forces of evil like #TTP to pursue their nefarious designs. This is yet another sign of the complete failure of this government. Sadly, the 🔥 is spreading to all four corners of Pakistan. https://t.co/6iRum34msQ
— Hassan Aslam Shad (@HassShad) February 17, 2023
“Serious security lapse in Karachi due to which three terrorists entered on sadar police office and managed to create harassment and raising questions about security arrangements of police,” Brig (retd) Haris Nawaz said.
Serious security lapse in karachi due to which three terrorist entered on sadar police ofc n managed to create harassment n raising questions about security arrangements of police
— Brig(R) Haris Nawaz (@harisnawaz3) February 17, 2023
Pertinent to mention that flaws have been identified in security arrangements at the Karachi Police Office. There is no security gate to enter Police Lines Saddar where families of policemen are residing. Terrorists allegedly entered KPO by climbing the rear wall and the three security checkposts at the city police chief’s office were not manned at the time of the attack. Barbed wire, on the rear wall of the KPO, was also cut and there are no CCTV cameras installed to monitor the building from the Shahrae Faisal side.
Read more: Security officials win praise for thwarting Mianwali terror attack